Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-11
A JOYOUS EASTER,
A Happy Welcome to the Festival
of Flowers.
Brilliant Services in the Different
Churches---ApproPF Sermons
The TempIar CeremOnies--Conffr
lions at Trinity.

Great as is Easter as a religious festival
it is also one OF the leading society events
of the year. Celebrating us il does the
resurrection of the Immortal One, it is
the happiest day in the church calender.
After forty days OF fasting and abstinence
from social enjoyment, the end of Lent's
reign, with revival of balls and teas
makes many hearts glad, and on Easter
morn, wnman's headgear blossoms in
gairish ribbons and bright pumage, as
part of what time and usage have made
the days celebration.
Yesterday was an ideal Easter day
Nature contributed all her beauty and
lustre and klndliness to make the ocCas-
ion one of happiness out of doors, while
within the churches gorgeous flowers in
profusion lent their brightness and lowell
ness TO the resurrection services. Bright
ly clad worshipers filed the houses of
God. and from the pulpits words of elo-
quence and cheer on the Importance of
the day were spoken. and from the we'll
trained voices of many went forth carols
OF Joy aud praise. 1t is safe to say that
there was not church 10 Rock Island
yesterday in which there was no alluslou
to Easter and in the Catholic aud Epis-
copal churches The exercises were espec-
tally interesting and attractive.
| EASTER MEDITATIoNs.
The sbeve was Rev. J. H Wright's
| merniDg theme at the Christian Chapel.
Mr. Wrigbts text was taken from
Romans 1 A
| Declared to be the Son of God by the resurrec-
| ton from the dead.
The first Easter anthem, Mr.. Wright
said, had its prelude and opening chords
in minor strain of sadness. Its prelude
was sobs of heartbroken motherhood and
waillng of friends sadly bereft She OF
Galilee. to whom an angel had foretold
His birth. lay tossing in utter sorrow.
saying surely the angel said. the Lord
God SHALL give unto Him the throne of
His father David: And he shall reign
| over the house of Jacob forever >" But
now, in WEAKNESS, family she means,
"He is dead" Aud the night winds
signing through the olive trees seem To
sing the same requiem of woe; Gone,
no more to return" And when the. sad
company at early dawn stood beside the
sepulchre in disnay they STE it is empty
and in utter woe uplift the cry: They
have taken away my Lord" Such was
the prelude. But soon it moderates into
strains most joyous Angels cry Be
hold the place where the Lord lay "
Then, Why seek ye the living among
the dead" Finally, He is not here,
HE Is RISEN"
And with happy hearts the sad visitors
to the sepulchre hasten to tell his dis
ciples of his resurrection.
Mr.. Wright then proceeded to cmpha
size first The Fact-A Risen Saviour, =
touching upon the theories of friends and
enemies. He grouped together the
great proofs by which the resurrection of
Jesus was established. Two monuments
still remain; burial and resurrection in
Christian baptism, COMMUNICATION of the
fact and the Lords Day commemorative
second part of the sermon dealt with
| The Apostolic use of this Great Fact. "
| By tracing the apostolic sermons in the
book of Acts, it was discovered to be the
central point of all their teaching Peter,
on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:32). on
SOl5mon's Perch, (Acts 3:15) in his de
Tense before the rulers, (Acts 4:10l and
in the holse Of Cornelius, (Acts 10:4W,
rested everything upon its truth. So
Paul at Antioch, (Acts l3:40l, at
Thersalomia, (Acts II 81 and on
Mars Hill, Q7-3D, and in all his ser =
mons taught Paul in his wonderful Cor
inthian letter, Cor. 15l, makes it the
basis of all expectancy of Immortality
Doctrnally, the forgiveness of SINS and
justification are made to rest upon 1t.
(Acts 1888 39) So. too, the future
judgment. (Acts 77:31)
Concluding ne argued upon all the
vital nature of the resurrection of Christ
No vantage ground must be yielded; upon
it rests all hope OF the life beyond. for
His is the voice to call us from the grave.
Two were baptized in the Christian
chapel last evening, making ten by con
fession and baptism. and four by letter
at the regular services recently 10 the
evening discourse Mr. Wright said: Il
understand our mayor-elect has pledged
himself to enforce existing laws. They
must be repealed or enforced If such
be his purpose we bid him G -8peed.
AT TRINITY.
Trinity church was clothed in bright
and beautiful foliage, Bishop Burgess,
of Quincy, made his annual visitation
to the parish, preaching in the morning.
and at the evening service confirmed a
class of ten. delivering an able and im
pressive address to the candidates. At
the morning service two memorial desks
were placed in the chancel aud consecra-
ted by the bishop; one was litany desk,
presented by Mrs. Call and sou. in mem
DRY of W. i. Call, and the other bis
hops desk, presented by Mrs, G. L.
Eyster and Miss Wright, in memoryo their